UMBRIA
Cycling Umbria's Medieval Towns
Located just east of Tuscany, Umbria is the birthplace of St. Francis and home to some of Italy's best preserved medieval towns. Join us as we pedal from Perugia to Spoleto through vineyards and olive groves and over gently rolling hills to monasteries, castles, and stone villages virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Along the way, you'll enjoy a two-night stay in Foligno and visit important cities like Perugia, Assisi, Spello and Spoleto. These historic cities, built by Umbrians or Romans and then rebuilt or refurbished over the centuries, are a sight to see as are the small villages we pass through or stay in along the way. Add a visit to central Italy's best known ceramics' town, Deruta and a taste of Sagrantino di Montefalco and other Umbrian wines, and this tour is a classic Italian bike ride.
Located just east of Tuscany, Umbria is the birthplace of St. Francis and home to some of Italy's best preserved medieval towns. Join us as we pedal from Perugia to Spoleto through vineyards and olive groves and over gently rolling hills to monasteries, castles, and stone villages virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Along the way, you'll enjoy a two-night stay in Foligno and visit important cities like Perugia, Assisi, Spello and Spoleto. These historic cities, built by Umbrians or Romans and then rebuilt or refurbished over the centuries, are a sight to see as are the small villages we pass through or stay in along the way. Add a visit to central Italy's best known ceramics' town, Deruta and a taste of Sagrantino di Montefalco and other Umbrian wines, and this tour is a classic Italian bike ride.
SKU:
Day 1: Arrive in Perugia
Today we'll meet in the well-preserved medieval town of Perugia, the ancient and modern capital of Umbria. Make sure to visit the piazza Matteoti and its Palazzo dei Capitani as the mixture of Medieval and Renaissance architecture makes this square and surrounding buildings a unique architectural blend. Present-day Perugia is famous for Peruginan chocolate, its vibrant old town, and its large Italian language school which serves thousands of foreigners annually.
Day 2: Ride from Perugia to Assisi
Distance: 40 km
Short ride today leaving Perugia and heading to Assisi, one of the many lures of Umbria. Our route stops below Assisi in St. Franci's first church which he saved from ruin in the 1200's by selling his possessions and renouncing his family and patrimony, he then lived there as a pauper repairing the chapel. You'll explore a bizarre chapel within a church that was his original Porziuncola and was later engulfed within a massive church (Santa Maria degli Angeli). This was erected in the 16th century to commemorate the beginning of the Franciscan Order. This afternoon we'll explore some of Assisi's highlights and hidden secrets with a local expert.
Day 3: Ride from Assisi to Torgiano
Distance: 40 km
Your ride today first takes you to Deruta where you can enjoy scores of ceramic studios. Deruta is famous throughout Italy for classic Italian ceramics. Enjoy your exploration of Deruta before returning to Torgiano for a dip in the hotel pool. Later this afternoon we'll partake in a wine tasting together at the Lungarotti winery in the center of Torgiano.
Day 4: Ride from Torgiano to Foligno
Distance: 45 km
We leave Torgiano this morning bound for Spello, a medieval, walled town known for its Roman ruins and its two dozen small churches which are home to important works from the likes of Pinturicchio, a Renaissance super star. Enjoy a visit of the paintings and a coffee in the main square before continuing on to Foligno, our destination for tonight. Along the way we'll stop to visit an olive oil mill where the ripe green Umbrian olives are transformed into liquid gold.
Day 5: Loop ride from Foligno to Bevagna
Distance: 55 km
We’ll start this morning with a special, guided walk of town to visit Palazzo Trinci and its marvels. A short bicycle ride takes you to the small stone town of Bevagna with its beautiful medieval Piazza Silvestri and the core of town with Palazzo dei Consoli in the same square dating back to the XIII century. From Bevagna, you’ll continue pedaling a short distance to reach the famous wine cellar designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro as the first sculpture in the world in which one can live and work. After a nearby wine tasting of the famous Sagrantino wine as well as a cellar visit, we’ll shuttle back to Foligno.
Day 6: Ride from Foligno to Spoleto
Distance: 45 km
Our last day we pedal to Montefalco, a hill town now famous for the wine we sampled last night. Riding through Sagrantino vineyards to the top of the small hill and back down, we'll then join a delightful bike path to pedal to the well-preserved medieval town of Spoleto, famous throughout the world for the Festival dei due Mondi, a three-week dance, music and opera festival. Wander and discover the hidden corners of this fabulous town that dates back to Roman times. Don't miss the Cathedral and a walk to the fortress Fortezza Albornoz on top of Colle Sant' Elia. We’ll enjoy a final dinner together.
Day 7: Spoleto
After breakfast, end of services
Today we'll meet in the well-preserved medieval town of Perugia, the ancient and modern capital of Umbria. Make sure to visit the piazza Matteoti and its Palazzo dei Capitani as the mixture of Medieval and Renaissance architecture makes this square and surrounding buildings a unique architectural blend. Present-day Perugia is famous for Peruginan chocolate, its vibrant old town, and its large Italian language school which serves thousands of foreigners annually.
Day 2: Ride from Perugia to Assisi
Distance: 40 km
Short ride today leaving Perugia and heading to Assisi, one of the many lures of Umbria. Our route stops below Assisi in St. Franci's first church which he saved from ruin in the 1200's by selling his possessions and renouncing his family and patrimony, he then lived there as a pauper repairing the chapel. You'll explore a bizarre chapel within a church that was his original Porziuncola and was later engulfed within a massive church (Santa Maria degli Angeli). This was erected in the 16th century to commemorate the beginning of the Franciscan Order. This afternoon we'll explore some of Assisi's highlights and hidden secrets with a local expert.
Day 3: Ride from Assisi to Torgiano
Distance: 40 km
Your ride today first takes you to Deruta where you can enjoy scores of ceramic studios. Deruta is famous throughout Italy for classic Italian ceramics. Enjoy your exploration of Deruta before returning to Torgiano for a dip in the hotel pool. Later this afternoon we'll partake in a wine tasting together at the Lungarotti winery in the center of Torgiano.
Day 4: Ride from Torgiano to Foligno
Distance: 45 km
We leave Torgiano this morning bound for Spello, a medieval, walled town known for its Roman ruins and its two dozen small churches which are home to important works from the likes of Pinturicchio, a Renaissance super star. Enjoy a visit of the paintings and a coffee in the main square before continuing on to Foligno, our destination for tonight. Along the way we'll stop to visit an olive oil mill where the ripe green Umbrian olives are transformed into liquid gold.
Day 5: Loop ride from Foligno to Bevagna
Distance: 55 km
We’ll start this morning with a special, guided walk of town to visit Palazzo Trinci and its marvels. A short bicycle ride takes you to the small stone town of Bevagna with its beautiful medieval Piazza Silvestri and the core of town with Palazzo dei Consoli in the same square dating back to the XIII century. From Bevagna, you’ll continue pedaling a short distance to reach the famous wine cellar designed by Arnaldo Pomodoro as the first sculpture in the world in which one can live and work. After a nearby wine tasting of the famous Sagrantino wine as well as a cellar visit, we’ll shuttle back to Foligno.
Day 6: Ride from Foligno to Spoleto
Distance: 45 km
Our last day we pedal to Montefalco, a hill town now famous for the wine we sampled last night. Riding through Sagrantino vineyards to the top of the small hill and back down, we'll then join a delightful bike path to pedal to the well-preserved medieval town of Spoleto, famous throughout the world for the Festival dei due Mondi, a three-week dance, music and opera festival. Wander and discover the hidden corners of this fabulous town that dates back to Roman times. Don't miss the Cathedral and a walk to the fortress Fortezza Albornoz on top of Colle Sant' Elia. We’ll enjoy a final dinner together.
Day 7: Spoleto
After breakfast, end of services
6 nights accommodation
6 breakfasts
Guided visit Assisi
2 wine tastings
Professional multi-lingual tour leader
6 breakfasts
Guided visit Assisi
2 wine tastings
Professional multi-lingual tour leader
General cycling information
On this tour we cycle 225 km over five days.
The terrain is virtually all on tarmac, and along quiet country roads.
The route is generally gently undulating and occasional steeper ascents.
The tour leader will cycle with the group every day.
We have graded the route as EASY.
On this tour we cycle 225 km over five days.
The terrain is virtually all on tarmac, and along quiet country roads.
The route is generally gently undulating and occasional steeper ascents.
The tour leader will cycle with the group every day.
We have graded the route as EASY.
